Physics 101

Homework #1

1.1 Nature of Physics

1. Classical physics covers which time period?
(a) before 1600
(b) 1600 – 1900
(c) after 1900
(d) None of the above

1.2 Units
2. Which unit is not based on an atomic experiment?
(a) length (meter)
(b) mass (kilogtam)
(c) time (second)
(d) None of the above

3. There are two kinds of mass units called:

(a) inertial and gravitational
(b) inertial and force
(c) acceleration and gravitational
(d) None of the above

1.3 The Role of Units in Problem Solving

4. Convert km to miles
160 km = 99.4 mi (1 mi = 1.609 km)

1. Use unit analysis

km(mi/km) = mi

2. Find conversion factor

1 mi = 1.609 km
1 mi / 1.609 km = 1
3. Substitute numbers
160 km (1 mi / 1.609 km) = 99.4 mi

5. 3.68 kg = 3680 g

1. Use unit analysis

kg(g/kg) = g

2. Find conversion factor

1 kg = 1000 g
1000g / 1 kg = 1
3. Substitute numbers
3.68 kg (1000 g / 1 kg) = 3680 g
1.4 Trigonometry

A right triangle is defined by the balloons.

The vertical height of the right triangle is (61.0 m – 48.2 m) = 12.8 m

tan(13.3) = 12.8 / x
x = 12.8 / tan(13.3) = 54.1 m

(a)
We are dealing with a right triangle. Use the Pythagorean theorem.
(R + h)2 = R2 + d2

d = sqrt[(R + h)2 – R2]

d = sqrt(R2 + 2Rh + h2 – R2)
d = sqrt(2Rh + h2)

Rh is much larger than h2

d = sqrt(2Rh )
d = sqrt(2 x 6.38x106 x 1.6) = 4518 m = 4.518 km

(b)
km x (miles / km) = miles
1 mile = 1.609 km
1 mile / 1.609 km = 1

4.518 km (1 mile / 1.609 km) = 2.807 miles

1.6 Vector Addition and Subtraction

8. Starting from the center of town (origin or coordinate system), a car travels east
(+x direction) for 80.0 km and then turns due south (-y direction) 192 km, at
which point it runs out of gas. Determine the magnitude and direction (angle) of
the stopped car from the center of town.

The parts of the journey form the two sides of a triangle. The displacement is the vector
pointing from the center of town to the end of the journey. The displacement is the
hypotenuse of the triangle.

The length of the hypotenuse is the magnitude of the displacement.

magnitude  80 2  192 2  208 km

  tan 1 (192 / 80)  67.4 0 below the east or +x direction. The vector points into the
fourth quadrant

9. When we multiply vector A by 2, the result is vector 2A which is a

(a) vector with the same magnitude and same angle as A
(b) vector with the same magnitude and twice the angle as A
(c) vector with twice the magnitude and the same angle as A
(d) vector with twice the magnitude and twice the angle as A

1.7 The Components of a Vector

10. A wind with a velocity of 42.9 km/h blows 250 above the positive x-axis.
(a) What is the magnitude of the x-component of the velocity (in km/h)?
(b) What is the magnitude of the y-component of the velocity (in km/h)?
 (a) x-component = 42.9cos(25) = 38.8 km/h
(b) y-component = 42.9sin(25) = 18.1 km/h

11. The x and y components of a displacement vector are 4.81 m and 7.81 m
respectively. What angle does the vector make with the +x-axis?

tan = y-component/x-component = 7.81 / 4.81 = 1.62

 = arc tan(1.62) = 58.40 above +x-axis

1.8 Addition of Vectors by Means of Components

12. Two forces are acting on an object. Force A has a magnitude of 8.0 N and a
direction of 220 above the +x-axis. Force B has a magnitude of 5.0 N and a
direction of 320 below the +x-axis.
This is a vector addition by components problem
(a) What is the magnitude of the total force acting on the object?
(b) What is the direction (angle) of the total force relative to the +x-axis?

(a)
C=A+B
Ax = 8cos(22) = 7.42
Bx = 5cos(32) = 4.24
Cx = Ax + Bx = 7.42 + 4.24 = 11.66

Ay = 8sin(22) = 3.00
By = -5sin(32) = -2.65 Angle below +x-axis
Cy = Ay + By = 3.00 - 2.65 = 0.35

A = sqrt(11.662 + 0.352) = 11.67

(b)
tan-1(Cy/Cx) = tan-1(0.35/11.67) = 1.720
Above +x-axis